811 White Street - Key West - New Construction in Old Town

The newly built and newly listed home at 811 White Street in Key West is quite the contrast to the little Cigar Maker Cottages and Grand Conch Houses that populate the streets of Key West. This house will grab your attention if you happen to be driving down the street in a car or riding your bike.  It says "Look at Me!".  It is much larger than the other nearby properties. It dominates the neighbors in size and boldness of design.  It is in stark contrast to the much smaller bungalow that sat on this lot for five decades or more. See the photos below starting with a photo from 1965 followed by mls listing photos from 2000 and 2005.

Three photos immediately above illustrate that the bungalow house that sat on this prominent lot was not historically significant which, I guess, is why the city permitted the original house razed. But the  bungalow shown was not the first building built on that lot. I looked at the 1892  Sanborn Fire Map for Key West and learned that the original address for this corner lot was 801 White Street. 801 White was the largest of six houses in the 800 block of White.

I found the above photograph that shows the 800 block of White Street as photographed circa 1900.  I added graphics that show the large Army barracks at the corner of Newton at White. I also added an arrow to show 801 or 811 White (whichever numerical address the house may have had when the photo was taken). The 900 block of White Street still has cigar maker cottages. The above photo suggests that the 800 block of White had similar cottages. None exist today. Instead, the 800 bloc, save and except 811 White Street, are all most bungalows.

811 White Street was newly constructed (finished) in 2014. The two story house has 2300 sq ft of living space and sits on a 4179 sq ft lot.  The house looks as if it borrowed some of the elements of design seen in many old Conch houses, but it is definitely of the 21st century as opposed to the 19th century.  The house is wood frame construction with Hardiboard siding.  All windows and doors are wind impact resistant.  Modern construction materials and techniques will significantly reduce wind and casualty insurance costs. 

The two story front porch looks directly out to White Street. White Street is a feeder street in the  daytime. After 6:00 PM traffic really dies down.  When you are inside the house you do not hear any traffic because of the impact glass and insulated walls. If you sit on the porch, you will hear noise. This may deter some buyers but I think there will be buyers who would love to watch the human parade go by.  The views from the front and back porches are terrific.  

After you pass the formal entry and head toward the great room at the rear you see this huge open space there is supposed to be a wall.  But there is no wall. Doors have magically disappeared into the the side of the house. The combined living, dining, and kitchen areas all see to flow out to the rear deck and pool area.

The pool area is really attractive. Newly planted trees and shrubs will soon fill in and provide lots of privacy - don't you fret. The Trex deck will last for years. It is a man made material that will resist our harsh climate.  Notice the stepped deck down to the pool is repeated by steps into the pool itself.

There is one bedroom with en suite bath on the first floor, two guest bedrooms on the second floor, and the master bedroom with en suite as well. Each second floor bedroom has a vaulted ceiling. The master suite has dual French doors that open out to a private deck that overlooks the pool below. The view of the neighborhood is quite amazing.  Both guest bedrooms on the front share the second floor porch.  CLICK HERE to view more photos that I took of this property. 

I think 811 White Street would make a really great second home for someone that wants to rent it as a vacation rental. It has off street parking, a convenient location within walking distance to Duval and near the gyms and yoga studios in the White Street area. But it is the four large bedrooms, the large and inviting living area, and that incredible sunny pool that will make this place popular.  This place has room for people to actually live a little - to kick back and relax.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet for more information. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a private showing.  I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. 

1305 Petronia Street, Key West, Florida - The Meadows

The listing Realtor got it right when he said 1305 Petronia Street was "Lovingly restored with every attention to luxurious detail".  When you see a house as pretty as this you may not have an appreciation of all the time, work, and money that went into the creation of a such a beautiful home. I hope today's blog will help you appreciate this wonderful home a bit more.

Like other Realtors I drive up and down the streets of Key West on an almost daily basis showing properties to prospective buyers. Sometimes when I see something out the ordinary, I'll stop my car to take a photo so that I can go back later  to compare what was to what became.  I took such a photo around 2010 after work had commenced on this Petronia Street home.  I could see that the original cottage was being substantially enlarged by a one and one-half story addition at the rear. I dug into the old shoebox and found some photos to show the progression on this property.

1305 Petronia St - 1965

The listing Realtor describes the finished property as an:

"Architectural Meadows masterpiece. Impeccably renovated 3 bedroom home in the highly sought-after Meadows neighborhood. Lovingly restored with every attention to luxurious detail: vaulted ceilings, Brazilian hardwood floors, large living room and spacious downstairs master suite. Modern kitchen with granite countertops and high-end stainless steel appliances, including a built in espresso maker and wine bar. Two guest bedrooms, full bathroom, and home-office space upstairs. Fully-fenced backyard with beautiful hardwood deck,lush tropical landscaping and off-street parking. An idyllic Meadows treasure with beautiful natural light throughout the home."

I searched the Historic Sanborn Fire Maps and found 1305 Petronia Street first appearing in the 1912 addition. That tells us the house existed as of that date, but it does not mean the house was not built earlier.  Earlier additions of the Sanborn maps totally omitted this area altogether.  I found the 1920 aerial photo below to which I added street names that show White Street, Eaton Street, Palm Avenue, and Eisenhower Driver [which was then called North Beach Blvd.]. I identified 1305 Petronia Street by address and an downward arrow.   The large triangle shaped area is the old Army base and parade ground.  

Now that we have our history lesson completed, let's move on to the good stuff.  1305 Petronia Street is an old house made all new.  The original front cottage is totally redone.  I read the building records which show the house was moved just a bit which means all new piers were added. I already mentioned the addition to the rear. The addition features Hardiboard siding. The house has all new water, sewer,electric and other mechanical systems. There are new impact windows throughout the house except the front windows.  There's a new roof. So even though this house looks old, it's new for all other purposes.

The original cottage with historic sawtooth addition is now the main living area. The combined living, dining, and kitchen are simply beautiful.  Everything works! The look is clean and elegant.

CLICK HERE to view all photos that I took of this house.

The master bedrooms with en-suite bath are big, spacious, and aesthetically pleasing. Part of the reason you want a place in Key West is to enjoy the scenery as well as the climate. Here the bedroom has dual French doors and windows that allow garden views to bring the outside inside.  The master bath has a large shower, tub, and double vanities. The laundry is tucked away in a closet in the bathroom as well.

There are two good sized bedrooms on the second floor.  The vaulted ceilings add dimension and drama to what might otherwise be hum-drum spaces in another house. Look at the sharp angle of the bath closet door which follows through in the shower dormer. This is good stuff.  The two bedrooms share a bath that would rival one you see in a Ritz Carlton hotel.  The owner has cleverly created a nifty office space at the top of the stairs.

The back garden includes has an Epay deck. (The bird on the palm frond was real. He was singing his little heart out!) The side yard has brick pavers which extend past the gated fence and become the off street parking space.  A side door just on the other side of the fence enters the house at the stairwell to the second floor. The main floor powder room is located opposite the stairway.

1305 Petronia Street is offered for sale at $1,200,000.  CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls data sheet.  Please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a showing of this really pretty home. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.  Let me help you find your place in Paradise.

The Importance of Finding Ernie

The Conch Telegraph reported that Bert and Ernie were recently seen on an airplane headed to Key West.  Various tourists captured photos of the famous pair and posted them to Instagram. Gossip travels fast in Key West. And if you are celebrities like Bert and Ernie, it travels even faster.

Bert was spotted sipping cocktails on the plane ride down to Key West. After the plane landed Bert sped over to the Bourbon Street Pub for happy hour.  He left Ernie at the airport waiting for their bags to arrive on a later flight.  Thank you very much American Airlines! 

Word got out that Bert was in town without Ernie. Newsmen and paparazzi appeared out of nowhere hoping to snap a shot Bert.

Day turned into night.  Bert wandered up and down and into and out of all the bars on Duval and the side streets looking for his little buddy.  At the end of the night he ended up at Captain Tony's playing pool for shots.   

Captain Tony's was a very bad choice.  Bert woke up the next morning and found himself mounting a Hemingway Cat that looks like Adolph Hitler reincarnated!  Once he sobered up Bert once again set out to find Ernie.

Bert went over to Simonton Street hoping Ernie might be at their favorite old deli only to find the place was closed and Ernie was nowhere to be found.

Bert then headed to seaport.  B.O.'s Fish Wagon was another favorite hangout. No Ernie there either. He wandered around Old Town for hours. Eventually he and made his way up to the Key West Cemetery.

Bert wandered over to the sweet little pink house over by the Key West Cemetery.  Bert and Ernie rented it for a month last year. Best vacation ever! But Ernie was nowhere to found. Bert then remembered their first trip to Key West when they stayed in a trailer up on Simonton Street.

When Bert arrived at the trailer court not only was Ernie not there, the trailer court was not there either. It was as if their life together had been erased. It seemed to Bert that he was living in the Twilight Zone or something.

 That night Bert went back over to the Bourbon Street Pub hoping against hope that Ernie would show up. He got wasted again.  When he walked out the front door door of the bar he heard someone say "Put on sock on it!" and ran for his life. 

The next morning Bert woke up with the worst hangover ever!  He headed over to Alcoholics Anonymous.  Whatever happened inside stayed inside.

Bert didn't fall off the end of the earth, Thank God!  But when Bert came out he renewed his quest to find Ernie with even more determination. He wandered the streets of Key West for several more hours.  It turned out that Ernie had been tracing Bert's movements. Everywhere he went he heard something like Bert was just here looking for you.  Forlorn, Ernie walked over to the the parking lot opposite the Leather Master on Appleroth Lane where he fell asleep. He awoke when Bert gave him a nudge. Together again!

Bert and Ernie made their way to Ft Zach Taylor Beach - their favorite place in the world - waiting for sunset.  Key West is the place they where they plan to spend their retirement - together.